African Americans And Freedom Songs

Different genres of music have been developed to address specific goals, and, in some cases, to soothe particular emotions. From the beginning of civilization, music has been used for self-expression and communication of hidden messages intended to serve a given purpose. As African Americans struggled with the yoke of oppression and slavery, they sought means through which they could not only console and find comfort among themselves but also pass specific messages to their abusers and the entire world. At the peak of the oppression of black people in America, “basic human rights were denied, blacks were beaten, whipped, raped and systems of justification arose to institutionalize slavery” (Sanchez 3). In the 1980s and 1990s, as more African American singers sought to express their resentment and share with the entire world the true facts of their experiences, the blues genre was popularized. Queen Latifah was one of the famous artists who chose to raise the voice of the voiceless. Her song “Evil That Men Do” illustrates the society that did little to help the needy but largely pursued selfish interests and had misplaced priorities.

During this call to action, people had different ideas on how to respond to the events surrounding the bombing on 16th street Baptist church. The response ranged from marching, protests, and most importantly, music. During the Civil Rights movement, music allowed artists to express their dissent through a medium in which their message could reach a plethora of peoples. Music during this time was also akin to the music effect of “work songs” sang during slavery as well as songs such as “we shall overcome” which draws parallels to songs sang as slaves attempted to escape to the north. Music also helped those involved in the civil

Negro spirituals was a “genre” of music introduced by African American slaves in response to their lives and treatment by the white race. It gave many slaves the voice of opposition that they never had and allowed them to subliminally speak against their masters without fear of consequences. Said to have originated from slaves who were “Unable to read the Bible for themselves and skeptical of their masters’ interpretation of it…” (Raboteau). These songs were “… the message of the Christian gospel… translated… into

In these songs, one can unearth the heart’s deepest desires—desires that are so basic, so undeniably human, that they cannot help but underscore the dehumanizing condition of slavery.

All cultures following prehistory had a musical background, therefore everyone can connect more effectively with a music containing a message than a speech, therefore spreading the message more effectively. “The freedom songs are playing a strong and vital role in our struggle” (MLK). In the case of the Civil Rights Movement, it was the prominent method to give the group a voice, represent them, and highlight their determination for social change. When times were hard for the movement, they would also rely on songs to sustain morale:

All faith-based hymns were not necessarily peaceful and loving, however; ballads such as “God Save the South!” by R.S.A. proclaimed the South’s divine right to succession with lyrics such as

African American religious music is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called “black music.” African American religious music has been a fundamental part of the black experience in this country. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel system of slavery. It then evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to answer three main questions. What are the origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African American religious music? These questions will be answered through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.

Americans before the Civil War came to the United States to acquire self-preservation and to explore the foundation of capitalism. Songwriters such as Stephen Foster, felt the American people needed an image to follow a need for Puritan mentality. Without a doubt, music purposely expressed these movements by the usage of musical lyrics to analyze the discrimination against African American slaves and the secession of the United States, which reflected the turmoil of the separated Puritan communities. In short, after the American Revolution, many Americans feared the idea of self-preservation within communities, expressing that Americans had no real endeavor in working together. Moreover, writers like J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur, practiced to establish a diverse America, not only to separate Americans and show how different they act according to their surroundings, but helped to express how an environment can change one’s self-preservation. Nevertheless, Americans left a deliberate standing point to follow as countless Puritans did before. The purpose of how music can diversify a community and make Americans’ self-preservation move toward their surroundings remained the example left by these idols. Undoubtedly, the environment itself obtained the biggest challenge for American Puritans. In any case, with the help of Foster’s intuition about how Americans should act as a community and the emotions that thrived within the musical lyrics of his songs—Beautiful Dreamer, Oh!

For more about music in the Civil Rights Movement, read these two Folklife Today blog posts on “Tracing the Long Journey of “We Shall Overcome” and “Photographs of the Southern Freedom Movement in the Alan Lomax

The United States has a storied musical history, shaped by a massively diverse population and geography. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Dixie’s Land” are two of the most important songs to American popular music history, and shaped the outcome of the Civil War and much of the past two centuries. Historically they represent entirely opposite ideals, but they interact immensely over the course of American history. Their complicated evolving relationships with society and each other represent the changing politics and culture of the United States from the Civil War to present day.

While hymns and Negro spirituals have become staples in predominantly Black churches, gospel music or music based on the gospel of Jesus Christ has taken a decidedly contemporary slant. Gospel music in many white churches was interpreted in a folksy, southern way. Gospel music in Black churches was expressed with the same passion and soul that the slaves had expressed before them. Though slavery had ended, Jim Crow had begun and the struggle that segregation, poverty, and oppression had brought was expressed in these churches and in song. For a community seeking “deliverance”, singing the gospel brought them one step closer to feeling free even when their lives were anything but.

“I remember the amazing progress, comparable with that of no other group or race which the Negro has achieved in less than a century of freedom…I recall the immortal message of the Negro National Anthem.”

To tell you the truth this was the first time i heard of this song. In my opinion i do think that this is a great example because as you stated in your post it did talked about the inner and outer peace with the poor African American Community. I do think today the government has stepped up and helping not just the African Community but all families that are financial having troubles.

     The power of song helped slaves through their dehumanized lives. They created unity in songs of religion and denounced the power their masters held over them. They were going to rebel in all facets of life. Slaves knew “that a happy slave is an extinct man” (p.33). The meanings of these songs can not be overstated. One who knew the importance of song was Frederick Douglass. “They told a tale of woe...they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the

For centuries, Gospel music has influenced and promoted African-American social, moral and ethical values, playing an imperative role in modelling their past and future. Originating from the hardships of slavery and the strength of Christian worship, Gospel music has adapted to musical tastes through the development of a number of sub-genres, while retaining its moral and spiritual framework. Throughout its musical history, Gospel music has had a profound and predominant influence on its devotees and followers. During the turbulent years of the American Civil Rights Movement, Gospel music played a vital role in building the foundations of stability and